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The Philippines is keeping its seat for the years 2026-2027 in the International Maritime Organization Council under Category C
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The category comprises 20 member states with special interests in maritime transport or navigation
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The country’s reelection in the council reaffirms “its vital role in shaping global maritime policy and advancing seafarer welfare,” the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority said
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MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said the country will continue to champion seafarers and maritime safety with the renewed mandate
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The IMO Assembly is currently holding its 34th session at the IMO headquarters in London from November 24 to December 3
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The newly elected IMO Council will convene for its 136th session on December 4, during which it will elect its chair and vice-chair for the upcoming biennium
The Philippines is keeping its seat for the years 2026-2027 in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C, which is composed of 20 member states with special interests in maritime transport or navigation.
The IMO Council serves as the executive organ and is in charge of supervising the work of the organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations.
The Philippines has been an IMO member since 1964 and Council member since 1997.
The country’s reelection in the IMO Council reaffirms “its vital role in shaping global maritime policy and advancing seafarer welfare,” the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said in a statement.
The council Category C ensures representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr., who represented the country’s candidature, highlighted the Philippines’ key role in the maritime sector, noting that one in every five seafarers worldwide is Filipino.
“We renew our unwavering commitment to ensure that the seas that connect us are seas of safety, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” Locsin said. “The Philippines brings to the Council a perspective grounded in experience, shaped by vulnerability, and driven by hope.”
There are more than half a million Filipino seafarers serving across fleets worldwide and the Philippines consistently ranks among the top contributors to the global maritime labor force.
MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan also welcomed the result, calling it a renewed mandate to champion seafarers and maritime safety at the highest level.
“We are all glad to have again joined the IMO Council – a sign of the Philippines’ leadership in maritime,” she said. “It means a louder voice for seafarers, their rights, safety, and well-being. We raised the flag.”
The IMO Assembly elected member states across three categories that will make up the council for the next term.
Category A is composed of the 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. These are: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Category B is made up of 10 states with the biggest stake in international seaborne trade. These are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates.
Categor C members, apart from the Philippines, are: the Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Türkiye.
The IMO Assembly is currently holding its 34th session at the IMO headquarters in London from November 24 to December 3.
The newly elected IMO Council will convene for its 136th session on December 4, during which it will elect its chair and vice-chair for the upcoming biennium.
IMO is composed of an assembly, a council, and five main committees, the Maritime Safety Committee, Marine Environment Protection Committee, Legal Committee, Technical Cooperation Committee, and Facilitation Committee –supported by a number of sub-committees that implement and advance the work of its technical bodies.
READ: Philippines re-elected to IMO Council
